Joe's of Westlake bought by Original Joe's owners

Published 6:02 pm, Wednesday, November 27, 2013

It's the end of an era for Daly City Joe's of Westlake (11 Glenwood Drive) - and, quite possibly, the beginning of a new era.

Owner Melinda Scatena, whose father, Bruno Scatena, opened Joe's of Westlake in 1956, is selling the property to the Duggan family, which owns and operates Original Joe's in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood.

The restaurant is slated to close Jan. 26 for an upgrade and remodel, reopening in 2015.

In many ways, the move brings the convoluted history of the Joe's brands full circle and back to John Duggan and his family, who expertly revitalized Original Joe's in its new North Beach environs after the Tenderloin original burned down several years ago.

John Duggan's grandfather Tony Rodin opened the first Original Joe's on Taylor Street in 1937. Two years later, Rodin partnered with Bruno Scatena to open Original Joe's No. 2 on Chestnut and Fillmore. In subsequent years, multiple Joe's outposts opened throughout the Bay Area, some from former partners and some not: Marin Joe's, Little Joe's, Original Joe's in San Jose and Scatena's baby, Joe's of Westlake.

Got all that?

News of the Westlake changes came out this week, and the regulars have responded, packing it to get their fill of signature ravioli, meatballs and charcoal-broiled burgers.

Melinda Scatena cites health issues as the reason for the sale, and the two families have a long history together.

"It kind of seemed the right way to go," says Scatena of the sale to the Duggans.

"I'm sure it's hard for everybody. It's hard for the employees, and that part is hard for me. I'm fortunate to have great employees, and a lot have been there for a long time.

More changes: An ownership change is also in the works at San Francisco old-timer and classic German beer hall Schroeder's (240 Front St.).

The Financial District institution - it dates back to 1893 and is billed as the oldest and largest German restaurant on the West Coast - has been bought by a team led by Andy Chun and Jan Wiginton, who own nearby Press Club (20 Yerba Buena Lane).

The restaurant has had several locations and owners. It's been in its current spot since 1959, and owned by Jana and Stefan Filipcik since 1997. They're retiring from the restaurant business.

Now another chapter will be written, with Chun and Wiginton as the new caretakers of the Schroeder's legacy.

First things first: The new owners will keep the name, the beer boots and the overall beer hall component. The historic murals and vintage bar will also remain.

However, there will be changes.

For starters, the huge 5,000-square-foot space will be split. The entire front area will remain a bar and beer hall, with new communal tables similar to those found in German beer tents, and new food offerings. The linoleum floor will be replaced by a hardwood one, the facade will be opened up with windows, and some of the 1950s-era light fixtures will be replaced.

A restaurant space will be carved into a portion of the room that has long been overlooked. It will be a sit-down affair, serving updated German food; the hunt is on for a chef. BCV Architects (Ferry Building, Oxbow, Press Club) will help with the remodel.

Schroeder's will close on Jan. 1, with the goal of a spring reopening.

Alta time: Daniel Patterson's new Mid-Market restaurant - named Alta CA and located a block from the Twitter building - is on track to open Tuesday.

Alta CA (1420 Market St.) will feature 65 seats in the dining room, with 16 at the bar. The menu from Patterson and chef Yoni Levy will be modern Californian, described as a "New World take on Old World fare."

Pastry chef Matt Tinder will offer soft-serve ice cream for dessert and take-out. On the booze side, Patterson and Co. are putting together a list in the style they've been developing at their other restaurants, with aged cocktails and vegetable-centric drinks.

Red hot: North Beach continues to be a hotbed of restaurant activity.

Bottle Cap will close at the end of December, after two years in the original Washington Square Bar & Grill space (1707 Powell St.).

Owners Liz Ferro and Dane Boryta have sold to Matt McNamara and Teague Moriarty, the young chefs who also own Michelin-starred Sons & Daughters. The new owners are mum on plans other than a quick turnaround and a planned opening in March.

At the other end of North Beach, Comstock Saloon (155 Columbus Ave.) is also making moves.

The dining room is being converted into a second bar, an homage to San Francisco bar legend Abe Warner, who owned the renowned Cobweb Palace during the city's Barbary Coast era.

Warner's bar was populated by a menagerie of animals, from monkeys and kangaroos to the namesake spiders; accordingly, Comstock will have a few animal statuettes in the new bar area.

Comstock's food will get updated, too. Chef Ronnie New is aboard and will unveil a fresh menu on Black Friday, with oysters, a raw bar, a burger and more. Regular lunch service will start in the coming months.

And in one more North Beach tidbit, keep an eye out Sunday for Michael Bauer's review of the revamped Tosca Cafe (242 Columbus Ave.).

Football food: The San Francisco 49ers have called a press conference for next Thursday at their new Santa Clara compound at Levi's Stadium. The reason, they say, is to announce "the stadium's one-of-a-kind partnership with a Bay Area culinary all-star."

Our guess as to the mystery chef?

A popular local empire-builder who is a noted Niners fan, who has been known to rub elbows with Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott ... and whose name sounds like Michael Mina. Either that, or Sourdough Sam.

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